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Kids, Chores and a New Book I’m Reading

I’ve always had my children do chores. My mom was the type of mother who found
she could do things faster, better, easier and consequently she did just that. I
did not do my first load of laundry until I was 16 years old and then felt I was
somehow being punished when she decided it might be a good idea for me to know
how to do this. I did not know my way around the kitchen much at all, had no
clue how to organize a closet, dresser, shelves, let alone an entire house. I
was a bit of slob but really did not know it. If I left my clothes lying around
my room by the time I got home from school they were gone. Having been washed,
dried, folded and put away. I never thought a thing about the fact that my
dresser drawers always had clothes ready for me and were neatly organized. My
mother was an amazing housekeeper and homemaker. She just did not pass this on
to me.

When I got out in the real world with my own home I was woefully unprepared. I
remember how I struggled to clean and organize a little tiny 2 bedroom apartment
and the difficulties I had trying to just keep 2 of us fed daily. Frozen pizza
got boring very fast.
Of course I learned quickly out of necessity but it was a struggle. I still
struggle with certain things in life (like closet organization :). Then I had 8
children… one by one of course. But as each child entered my life so did the
level of work and organization needed to keep the wheels turning and the plates
spinning around my home.

I knew two things.. 1) I did not want my children to walk away
from home unable to prepare meals, clean a house, pick up after themselves, do
their own laundry and so much more. And 2) I could not do it all without their
help. Besides I’m not a fan of maid service for children who are old enough to
make their own beds, pick up their own clothing, pick up their own clutter from
around the house, put their dishes in the dishwasher, etc.
So I taught my children how to do the basics in life and my children learned how
to work. As my adult children have gone out in the world to jobs and life they
have, on more than one occasion, come back to me and said, “Mom, thank you so
much for teaching me how to work!” .. they appreciate it because real life takes
work. It is not always about play time and fun time. They got to see the whole
picture. Work, clean up, play & fun… a nice honest balance of real life.
Now here is my current situation. I have 4 children still at home. One works
full time and is not here most of the day, one works part time (nights) and
sleeps a good part of the day. That leaves me with 2 full time children. And I
realized a few months ago that there has been a shift in my own thinking. With
only 2 full time kids I really can keep up on things without their help. And I
started doing just that. Then I saw what happened… they began to accept the fact
that I was going to clean it up, put it away and take care of it and instead of
jumping in and saying “Oh Mother, please, let me do that” (ha, ha, I say that
tongue-in-cheek I hope you know :), they just let me do it. That is when I
realized I was walking down the totally wrong path with them.. I forgot those 2
important life lessons I wanted ALL my children to leave home with: 1) they need
to be prepared for real life and 2) I’m not a fan of maid service for people who
are totally capable of doing it themselves.

Now for the book I’m reading and highly recommend if any of you with children
find yourself in a similar situation: Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month
Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wyma.

I started reading this and saw right away where I was going wrong. ~smile~ I
find her writing enjoyable and her information just right on. The first thing I
remember doing was going to my 18 year old son’s room and telling him it was
time to clean it up. He had a number of excuses, “but I’ve worked all week” was
his biggest.. and true he had, worked a lot, but then again doesn’t the rest of
the world? And then they have to come home and take care of their messes… hello
son, welcome to real life. I see quite a few changes in store for the youngest
children of the flock… and this book has been very nice motivation for the
process and I highly recommend it!

What a great post! It is very important to teach our children responsibility at an early age. My sister and brother-in-law didn't prepare my nephew for adulthood....it was a culture shock for him when he left home.

This sooooo hits home with me. I have two children so I was always able to keep up with the housework on my own. I thought since I was a stay at home mom that it was my job to keep everything clean. I have recently had a mind switch with my 13 yr old daughter. If she doesn't learn this stuff now when will she learn it. Five or six chores have been implemented for each week and really staying own her about taking care of her ferret's needs and picking her belongings up from around the house. I will restate this is a work in progress. lol. Hard to change their habits after doing it one way for 13 years, but we will perserve and get it done.BlessingsDiane

Me too, Me too! I have 6 children and for many reasons and our current "too busy" situation I am finding myself walking into every room and seeing jobs left undone or half done...does this book teach you as a mom how to follow through with instruction? Ha!I need to work on myself too!

Thank you for suggesting this book! I have 6 kids at home ages 3-14. I am very anxious to use the ideas that she offers! I am very much in the rut of just doing it myself to hurry things along. And that does not do any of us any good....Thanks again! Mary

As a mom of a 2year old toddler, I was the girl coming home to a clean house and room , made bed washed and ironed clothes. And yes then mom wanted me to learn when I was in highschool. Yeah what a drudgery it was. Then I moved out on my own.. o my what a mess!!! I was to social to really care, then got kicked out of an apparment because of me messyness, then stayed that way(parents moved to another town when I started to work(19) so no family or friends, no one teaching you.. I am married today for 6 years, and what an excperience. Am only starting to get things in order.

SO oneday I would love to teach other ga'lls and my own children so it wont be that overwelming and embarresing. My girl of 2 has her job's already. setting the table, and helping mom pack out diswasher(when she is there and cleaning up her toys with mommy) :)

I thought you started out organized and knew it all, after all these years of reading your blog I must say I feel inspired! xxx

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My name is Crystal and I'm a mom to 8 grown children and grandma to 14 adorable grandchildren. I love to blog about homemaking, cooking and baking, family, homeschooling, life in midlife, and more. Thanks for stopping by!